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Trike Law
Changes to B1 Entitlement. Before October 2000, a person who passed a motorcycle test was granted a full sub-category B1 licence (lightweight car, motor quadricycle, motor tricycle) as an additional entitlement with the full A (motorcycle) licence.
The Driving Standards Agency, in their 'Safer Motorcycling' consultation, proposed that in future successful motorcycle test candidates would be issued with a provisional rather than a full B1 licence. 49 of the 57 consultees who commented on the issue were in favour of this proposal, including safety, police and training interests.
There were representations against from companies selling lightweight cars, the National Trike Register and MAG UK, suggesting that riders might want to use their licence to ride tricycles. There were suggestions that separate licence categories should be introduced, but changes to motor vehicle licence categories would require a change to EU law.
Ministers decided to implement the proposal, which affected very few motorcyclists as over 90% held a full car licence (which continues to give full sub-category B1 entitlement). Nor did it affect anybody already holding a full motorcycle licence, who retained full B1 entitlement.
The changes were implemented during October 2000. What the above did mean though is that if you didn't have a full car or bike licence before October 2000 and wish to either trike your bike or buy one you will now have to apply for a provisional car licence and if you wish to carry passengers then pass the test. This is very unfair as a car driver with no experience of bikes can get straight onto certain types of trike, with passengers, and ride away. Also if you're forced onto a trike due to a disability or a smash you'll have to apply for a provisional car licence even though you've been riding bikes for years! You can ride a trike on a provisional car licence, ie. with "L" plates, but you must be 17 ( or 16 if you are getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate for the mobility component ) and the trike must have only one seat; the rider's seat. If you do wish to carry passengers, your trike can have extra seats, but you must carry a qualified bike or car licence holder with you at all times; this is also dependant, of course, on which sort of trike your accompanying full licence holder is qualified to ride. I can confirm that as the holder of full category B (motor car) entitlement you may ride trike type vehicles that falls within the definition of category B1. The category B1 is defined as " a sub-category of category B comprising motor vehicles having three or four wheels, an unladen weight not exceeding 550 kilograms". A vehicle that exceeds 550kgs unladen will fall within the definition of a motor car. As can be seen, the vehicle may have three or four wheels and providing it does not exceed 550 kilograms unladen there are no other constraints on engine size etc. However, the vehicle must meet Construction and Use requirements, (i.e. in practical terms, meet MOT testing requirements). Clearly, a braking system that can more than adequately meet the power to weight ratio of the machine is essential along with a chassis/frame that is structurally suitable and takes the afore said into consideration. The Vehicle Standards and Engineering Branch are responsible for safety standards for brakes, wheels, tyres, steering, suspension and power/weight ratios. Their address is: Vehicle Standards and Engineering Branch 4 Great Minster House, 2/02 76 Marsham Street, LONDON. SW1P 4DR. The term ‘unladen weight’ means, "the weight of a vehicle or trailer inclusive of the body and all parts (the heavier being taken where alternative bodies or parts are used) which are necessary to or ordinarily used with the vehicle or trailer when working on a road, but exclusive of the weight of water, fuel or accumulators used for the purpose of the supply of power for the propulsion of the vehicle or, as the case may be, of any vehicle by which the trailer is drawn, and of loose tools and loose equipment". For more information please visit,
www.direct.gov.uk/motoring
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Do I Need To Wear A Helmet When Riding A Trike?
In a word, "No", neither for bike engined nor car engined trikes. *
Helmets are only compulsory for motor bicycles, not motor tricycles. On the other hand, you may wish to wear a helmet, say on a long journey, to protect your head from the weather, flying debris etc, etc; it's up to you. *
As a word of warning, should you be unfortunate enough to have an accident on your trike, some insurance companies may try to use against you, the fact that you weren't wearing a helmet should you wish to make a claim for damages, especially if you sustained head injuries. |
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